Best Cheap Medicare Advantage Plans in Washington
AARP/UnitedHealthcare (UHC) has the best balance between cost and quality for Medicare Advantage plans in Washington state. It sells plans in most of the state, and it has the only five-star rated plan in Washington state. A five-star rating means a high degree of customer satisfaction.
Kaiser Permanente and Humana are rated as the best in the state. Molina Healthcare has quality plans for $0 per month that are available in most of the state.
The best Medicare Advantage plans in Washington state
The best overall Medicare Advantage provider in Washington state is AARP/UnitedHealthcare because it provides strong levels of customer satisfaction and extra benefits at a reasonable price.
Molina Healthcare is the most widely available $0 Medicare Advantage provider in Washington. But its plans don't offer the highest level of coverage. Kaiser Permanente has the most expensive prices, but it also boasts the highest customer satisfaction rates.
Washington state Medicare Advantage providers
Company | CMS quality rating | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| PacificSource | 3.8 | $0 |
| Molina Healthcare | 3.0 | $0 |
| Cigna | 3.0 | $0 |
| Amerigroup | 2.5 | $0 |
| Wellcare | 2.8 | $4 |
Ratings are out of five and based on national customer satisfaction data taken from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Costs are based on an average of all Medicare Advantage plans offered in Washington.
To find the best Medicare Advantage plan, you should consider cost, service quality and extra benefits like wellness programs and prescription drug and dental coverage.
You should decide which factors matter the most to you before you start shopping since many cheaper plans have poor customer service and few add-ons, while more expensive plans often have higher customer satisfaction rates and better coverage.
Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans bundle together the coverage offered by Original Medicare (Parts A and B) along with drug coverage (Part D). Private companies sell and administer Medicare Advantage plans, although they receive money from the government in addition to your monthly payments.
Many companies include additional benefits like wellness programs, vision coverage and dental coverage to entice potential customers. In exchange for cheaper care and add-on benefits, your Medicare Advantage plan may limit you to in-network coverage for most covered services.
Many of the least expensive Medicare Advantage plans are HMOs, which limit you to a network of doctors and require referrals. You might choose a PPO over an HMO plan if you value flexibility, even though you'll pay more for out-of-network care compared to in-network care. PPOs usually cost more than HMOs, but PPOs don't require your primary care physician to make referrals to other care providers.
Best overall Medicare Advantage: AARP/UnitedHealthcare (UHC)
-
Overall rating
- Average monthly cost: $27
AARP/UnitedHealthcare combines low prices with high levels of customer service. Its rates are 13% cheaper than the Washington state average.
Depending on your location, you may be able to choose from several options including PPO and $0-per-month plans.
You must sign up for an AARP membership before you can buy an AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan. Membership costs just $16 a year and opens up a range of benefits, such as discounts at restaurants, travel and health and wellness programs.
In addition, many AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans offer extra benefits beyond services you'd receive through Original Medicare.
Common add-on benefits
- Vision
- Dental
- Transportation
- Wellness
- Drug coverage
- Hearing
AARP/UnitedHealthcare is the only Medicare Advantage provider in Washington to offer a five-star rated plan. Only 11% of all Medicare Advantage plans in the country receive a five-star rating.
AARP/UnitedHealthcare receives roughly half as many customer complaints as an average company its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
In addition, AARP/UnitedHealthcare was ranked in the top half of U.S. Medicare Advantage providers for customer satisfaction in a J.D. Power study.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rate each Medicare Advantage plan according to multiple criteria. These include factors like customer service, care quality, services offered and the health outcomes of plan holders.
You can switch from a lower-rated plan to a five-star plan at any time of the year (except Dec. 1-7) through a special enrollment period.
Best for customer satisfaction: Kaiser Permanente
-
Overall rating
- Average monthly cost: $79
Kaiser Permanente has a reputation for strong care quality and high levels of customer service.
Kaiser Permanente came in first place in J.D. Power's 2022 Medicare Advantage customer satisfaction survey, and its average CMS plan rating is four out of five. That ties it with three other companies, including Humana, for the highest average in Washington state.
In Washington state, Kaiser Permanente receives 96% fewer complaints than an average insurance company its size. However, you can expect to pay extra for this high level of care quality. The average monthly rate for a Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plan is $79, more than twice as expensive as the state average.
Best customer satisfaction runner-up: Humana
Humana offers an affordably priced alternative for those seeking a high-quality Medicare Advantage plan in Washington state. Its plans receive a four-star average CMS rating, the same as Kaiser Permanente. In addition, it scored second in J.D. Power's 2022 U.S. Medicare Advantage satisfaction survey.
Humana receives significantly fewer complaints than an average Medicare Advantage company its size. At $28 a month, its plans are less than half the average cost of a Kaiser Permanente plan.
Best zero-dollar Medicare Advantage plans: Molina Healthcare
-
Overall rating
- Average monthly cost: $0
Molina Healthcare offers $0 Medicare Advantage plans to most Washington state residents.
Molina Healthcare has an average CMS rating of 3.0, which indicates above-average service and plan quality.
At $8,300 a year, its average out-of-pocket maximum is significantly higher than the $6,190 Washington state average. That means Molina is a poor choice if you have high medical costs. However, if you're relatively healthy, Molina may be a good choice. You shouldn't select a Medicare Advantage plan from Molina if customer service is a high priority. Molina gets more complaints than average as a company on the national level. State-specific complaint rates are not available. However, Molina might be the right choice if you're willing to sacrifice service for a low-cost Medicare Advantage plan.
If you live in Clark, Pierce or Spokane County, you should consider PacificSource for a $0 Medicare Advantage policy because of its high plan quality.
While $0-per-month Medicare Advantage plans don't require you to pay anything to the company administering your policy, you're still responsible for your monthly Medicare Part B premium payments, which go to the government. You should also budget for out-of-pocket costs like your deductible, copay and coinsurance.
Can you buy a Medigap plan and a Medicare Advantage plan in Washington state?
You cannot buy a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy if you have a Medicare Advantage plan in Washington state or anywhere in America.
You can only buy a Medigap policy if you have Original Medicare (Parts A and B), which should cover roughly 80% of your medical costs. Medicare Supplement policies help you pay for the remaining out-of-pocket costs you would normally be responsible for.
You can switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare during the open enrollment period that runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 each year. A Medicare special enrollment period may open up if you experience a qualifying life event such as a move or loss of health coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Medicare Advantage plan in Washington state?
AARP/UnitedHealthcare (UHC) has the top Medicare Advantage plan in Washington state because it has the best combination of price and quality. It has the only
How can you get Medicare help in Washington state?
You can receive free, unbiased guidance from a Washington state Medicare advisor through the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA).
To get in touch with a representative, call 800-562-6900 (TTY: 1-360-586-0241) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (PST) Monday through Friday, or reach out via web form on the Office of the Insurance Commissioner website.
How much does Medicare Advantage cost in Washington state?
The average monthly cost of a Medicare Advantage policy in Washington state is $31 a month. You can also choose from a large number of $0 plans.
Sources and methodology
ValuePenguin used cost and quality data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Customer satisfaction information is from J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
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Callers will be directed to a licensed and certified representative of Medicare Supplement insurance and/or Medicare Advantage HMO, HMO SNP, PPO, PPO SNP and PFFS organizations. Calls will be routed to a licensed insurance agent who can provide you with further information about the insurance plans offered by one or more nationally recognized insurance companies. Each of the organizations they represent has a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any plan depends on contract renewal.
Availability of benefits and plans varies by carrier and location and may be limited to certain times of the year unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 73 organizations which offer 5,110 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
These numbers provided are not specific to your area, but rather represent the number of organizations and the number of products available on a national basis. We will connect you with licensed insurance agents who can provide information about the number of organizations they represent and the number of products they offer in your service area. Not all plans offer all of these benefits. Benefits may vary by carrier and location.
Deductibles, copays, coinsurance, limitations, and exclusions may apply.
Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information contained on this website. Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system every year.
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